Navigation and Seamanship (1+1)

Procedure for transmitting Emergency ‘MAYDAY’ calls

"MAYDAY" is to be used ONLY in an emergency in which the boat and/or persons on board are in imminent danger of sinking or major injury or death. You may only have seconds to send a distress call. Here’s what you do. Transmit in this order:

1. Tune your radio to Channel 16.

2. Distress signal "MAYDAY", spoken three times.

3. The words "THIS IS", spoken once.

4. Name of vessel in distress (spoken three times).

5. Repeat "MAYDAY" and name of vessel, spoken once.

6. Give position of vessel by latitude or longitude or by bearing (true or magnetic, state which) and distance to a well-known landmark such as a navigational aid or small island, or in any terms which will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress. Include any information on vessel movement such as course, speed and destination.

7. Nature of distress (sinking, fire etc.).

8. Kind of assistance desired.

9. Number of persons onboard.

10. Any other information which might facilitate rescue, such as length or tonnage of vessel, number of persons needing medical attention, color hull, cabin, masks, etc.

11. The word "OVER"

The following are the steps to use VHF phone

· Check the radio setting: T he marine radio is set on the proper frequency and band width. While on a vessel underway you are required to keep a listening watch on 2182 kHz or channel 16.

· Squelch control : Squelch control blocks out weak signals. Adjust the squelch control until the noise (static) can be heard, then adjust it slightly in the opposite direction until the noise stops. Setting the squelch control adjusts the receiver so only signals strong enough to pass the level selected will be heard and reduces the amount of static noise on the speaker.

· Do not interrupt others: Before beginning a transmission, listen for a few seconds to avoid interrupting other communications that are already in progress.

· Microphone placement: Keep the microphone about 1 to 2 inches from lips. When transmitting, shield the microphone by keeping head and body between noise generating sources (such as engine noise, wind, etc.) and the microphone.

· Know what to say: Before keying the transmitter, know how to say what is going to be said. Keep all transmissions short and to the point. Never “chit-chat” or make unnecessary transmissions on any frequency.

· Speaking: Speak clearly, concisely, and in a normal tone of voice, maintaining a natural speaking rhythm.

· Proper prowords: Use proper prowords, ending each transmission with “over” and the last with “out.” Never say “over and out.”

· Prowords for pauses: In cases where a pause for a few seconds between transmissions is necessary, use the proword “wait.” If the pause is to be longer than a few seconds, use prowords “wait, out.” Do not use “wait one” or “stand by.”

· Messages are not private: Remember, voice transmissions may be heard by anyone with a radio or scanner